Staff questioned on eccentric list of criteria that meet Trump administration’s new national security prioritiesStaff on hundreds of foreign aid projects left in limbo by the Trump administration’s funding freeze have received a survey that asks them to justify their work under an eccentric list of criteria that meet the White House’s new national security priorities.The survey, copies of which have been obtained by the Guardian, asks foreign aid programme staff to detail whether they contribute to limiting illegal immigration or securing US borders, “combatting Christian prosecution”,and whether they help the US secure access to rare earth minerals. Continue reading...
The Trump administration issued a survey to US foreign aid projects, eight weeks after a funding freeze caused layoffs, asking them to justify their work based on criteria like limiting illegal immigration, combating Christian persecution, securing US access to rare earth minerals, and avoiding climate/environmental justice or DEI elements. The survey also inquires about affiliations with communist/socialist parties, reliance on international organizations, and funding from countries like Russia and China. Despite some stop-work orders being lifted after a Supreme Court ruling, confusion remains about future review criteria, with concerns the survey could be incriminating.